Inside The Posh Party to Launch the New Downtown Hotspot: The Beekman

It’s one of the most anticipated openings of 2016.

Last week New York’s movers and shakers got a sneak preview of The Beekman, the newly refurbished historic landmark located at 5 Beekman Street in Lower Manhattan. The updated property, now a complex, will consist of a hotel, luxury condos, and two new restaurants from some of the biggest names in New York city dining.

Allen Gross, CEO of GFI Capital Resources Group, welcomed more than 100 guests to a four-course dinner which previewed dishes from Tom Colicchio’s upcoming restaurant at the hotel, Fowler & Wells. During dinner, Gross spoke to the crowd about revitalizing one of New York City’s last hidden architectural treasures. There was also a surprise performance by soprano Sasha Lazard and a cake in shape of The Beekman to celebrate the launch.

Guests included John Prizker, Tom Colicchio, ABC News Anchor Dan Abrams, photographers Michael Avedon and Antoine Verglas, Serge Becker, tech entrepreneurs Pete Cashmore (Mashable) and Rus Yusupov (Vine), designers Tom Cashin, Jay Johnson and Tony Ingrao, architect Winka Dubbeldam, Bergdorf Goodman’s Linda Fargo, the art world’s Mark Fletcher, Andee Friedrich, and Tobias Meyer, Christies’s Xin Li and Jacqueline Schnabel, models Constance Jablonski, Juana Burga and Alix Angjeli, artist Michael Karbelnikoff and Cheryl Dunn, curator Bettina Korek, the Downtown Alliance’s Jessica Lapin, Alex Matthiessen, Bravo’s Fredrik Eklund, artist Ryan McGinness and Trish Goodwin,  Pietro Quaglia, Lauren Remington Platt,  Sofia Sanchez de Betak, New Line Cinema founder Bob Shaye and Eva Shaye, filmmaker Michael Mailer, Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan, Amy Sacco, Westfield WTC Stacie Henderson, and Giorgia Tordini, among others.The event was produced by WCMG, with pre-dinner music and performances curated by National Sawdust. 

What you need to know about The Beekman: Built in 1881, The Beekman is known for its nine-story atrium and majestic pyramidal skylight. Planned to open late this summer as a Thompson Hotel, the landmark was restored by Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects with interior design by Brit Martin Brudnizki. The Beekman Residences, a newly built 51-story luxury condominium tower with interior design by Danish architect/designer Thomas Juul-Hansen, is scheduled to be completed in winter 2016.

Restaurants from chef Tom Colicchio and restaurateur Keith McNally will open this summer. Colicchio and Crafted Hospitality will also operate The Bar Room, located on the ground floor of the atrium, as well as all in-room and private dining for the hotel and residences. Keith McNally’s restaurant, Augustine, will be his first restaurant in Lower Manhattan. For more information: www.thebeekman.com